The
Hurley 18 shares the same long keel design as its bigger sister the
H22, having been designed at the same time. This, together with a good
ballast/weight ratio, explains why she has a reputation as a stiff and
comfortable boat at sea, with excellent ability to work to windward.
18 ft pocket cruisers will not be expected to have a spacious interior,
but the interior layout of the 18 is very realistic in its ambitions,
making it a very pleasurable boat. Although they can be found in the
UK, over 70% were exported new, mainly to Europe and some to the USA.
Having built 377 boats Hurley Marine built the last H18 in 1972 in favour
of the bigger Hurley designs coming into production, the H27 in 1971,
H24/70 in 1972 and the H30/90 in 1973. Just like the H22, the H18 can
best be described as a "proper little ship".

Before
Hurley Marine went out of business the moulds were sold to Russell Curnow
of Penzance, Cornwall who continued to build them up until about 1979.
The moulds were then bought by Varne Yachts of Nottingham who were later
taken over by Weston Boats who then went out of business in 1986. Over
900 H18s were built altogether.